Prevalence and determinants of adult consumer use and comprehension of food labels in sub-Saharan Africa: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

CONTEXT: Food labelling is a global strategy recommended to reduce noncommunicable diseases. Few reviews, however, have focused on food label use in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence of food label use and describe determinants of food label use and purchasing decisions of adult consumers in SSA. DATA SOURCE: PubMed (Medline), Web of Science, Cochrane Central, and Google Scholar databases. DATA EXTRACTION: Search criteria included adults (aged ≥18 years), conducted in SSA, focusing on food label use or understanding and their determinants or determinants of food-purchasing decisions, and articles published in English. STUDY QUALITY AND DATA ANALYSIS: Risk-of-bias assessment of included studies was done using the Joann Briggs Institute checklist for prevalence studies. Publication bias was assessed using funnel plots and Egger's test. Analysis included narrative synthesis and moderator and meta-analyses of food label use. RESULTS: A total of 124 articles were found, of which 21 were included in the review. Of participants in the selected studies, 58% were female. About 80% reported food label use (either used sometimes or always) (70%-88%) (I2 = 97%; n = 6223), and regular use was estimated at 36% (28%-45%) (I2 = 97%; n = 5147). Food label use was influenced by level of income, education, employment status, and household size. Food-purchasing decisions were influenced by attributes such as expiry dates, price, and taste. Major recommendations reported were tailored education campaigns and reducing barriers to food label use. CONCLUSION: Most (80%) of adults in SSA reported using food labels; however, only about one-third used them consistently. Demographic and situation factors determined patterns in food label use, whereas product attributes influenced food purchasing decisions. Complexity of these determinants requires adopting tailored, multisectoral, theory-driven programs to improve food label use. SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION: Open Science Framework (https://osf.io/kc562).

Association of migration and family planning use among women in Malawi: Evidence from 2019/2020 Malawi Multiple Indicators Survey.

BACKGROUND: Family planning (FP) is known to bring multiple benefits to people both individually and collectively. Individually, FP has been associated with reduction in risk of unintended pregnancy which also correlates with low child mortality rates. Child mortality rates in women with child spacing of less than two years are 45% higher compared to their counterparts with child spacing of more than two years. Several factors that predict FP utilisation among women of childbearing age have been identified but there is limited literature on how migration impacts FP utilisation in Malawi. Our current study aimed at assessing the association between migration and modern contraceptive use among women of childbearing age in Malawi. METHODS: Data for this study came from a nationally representative 2019/20 Malawi multiple cluster indicator survey (MICS). At total of 24,543 women aged 15 to 49 participated in the survey. Contraceptive prevalence rate (CPR) analyses were conducted separately on all women of childbearing age and married women. The data was analysed using the complex survey data approach by applying sampling weights to correct unequal representation of participants at cluster, district, and regional level. We used binary logistic regression to assess association between migration status and modern contraceptive use among all women of childbearing age and married women separately. We included age, age at first sex, age at marriage, region of residence, education, residence wealth index and presence of disability as confounders in our final multivariable models. RESULTS: The overall CPRs for married women and for all women of childbearing age were 64.7% and 40.5% respectively. The CPRs for all women of childbearing age were 40.5% for non-migrants and 33.0% for migrant women. For married women, CPRs were 51.5% for migrant women and 65.5% for non-migrant women. The fully adjusted odds ratios for the association between migration status and modern contraceptive use were 0.62 (0.49-0.78) for married women and 0.65 (0.52-0.80) for all women of childbearing age. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude from our findings that migrant women were significantly less likely to utilize modern contraceptive methods for both married women and all women of childbearing age. Deliberate efforts are required to ensure that migrant women of childbearing age have equal access to sexual and reproductive health services which includes family planning.

Digital interventions self-management education for type 1 and 2 diabetes: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE: To describe and assess digital health-led diabetes self-management education and support (DSMES) effectiveness in improving glycosylated hemoglobin, diabetes knowledge, and health-related quality of life (HrQoL) of Type 1 and 2 Diabetes in the past 10 years. DESIGN: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. The protocol was registered on PROSPERO registration number CRD42019139884. DATA SOURCES: PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane library, Web of Science, and Scopus between January 2010 and August 2019. Study Selection and Appraisal: Randomized control trials of digital health-led DSMES for Type 1 (T1DM) or 2 (T2DM) diabetes compared to usual care were included. Outcomes were change in HbA1c, diabetes knowledge, and HrQoL. Cochrane Risk of Bias 2.0 tool was used to assess bias and GRADEpro for overall quality. The analysis involved narrative synthesis, subgroup and pooled meta-analyses. RESULTS: From 4286 articles, 39 studies (6861 participants) were included. Mean age was 51.62 years, range (13-70). Meta-analysis revealed intervention effects on HbA1c for T2DM with difference in means (MD) from baseline -0.480% (-0.661, -0.299), I275% (6 months), -0.457% (-0.761, -0.151), I2 81% (12 months), and for T1DM -0.41% (-1.022, 0.208) I2 83% (6 months), -0.03% (-0.210, 0.142) I2 0% (12 months). Few reported HrQoL with Hedges' g 0.183 (-0.039, 0.405), I2 0% (6 months), 0.153 (-0.060, 0.366), I2 0% (12 months) and diabetes knowledge with Hedges' g 1.003 (0.068, 1.938), I2 87% (3 months). CONCLUSION: Digital health-led DSMES are effective in improving HbA1c and diabetes knowledge, notably for T2DM. Research shows non-significant changes in HrQoL. Intervention effect on HbA1c was more impressive if delivered through mobile apps or patient portals. Further research is needed on the impact of DSMES on these outcomes, especially for newly diagnosed diabetes patients.

Impact of DSMES app interventions on medication adherence in type 2 diabetes mellitus: systematic review and meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVES: To conduct systematic review and meta-analysis of interventional studies to investigate the impact of diabetes self-management education and support (DSMES) apps on adherence in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2D). METHODS: PubMed, Embase, CENTRAL, Web of Science, Scopus and ProQuest were searched, in addition to references of identified articles and similar reviews. Experimental studies, reported in English, assessing DSMES app intervention's impact on adherence and clinical outcomes of patients with T2D compared with usual care were included. Study bias was assessed using Cochrane Risk of Bias V.2.0 tool. Analysis plan involved narrative synthesis, moderator and meta-analysis. RESULTS: Six randomised controlled trials were included, involving 696 participants (average age 57.6 years, SD 10.59). Mobile apps were mostly used for imputing clinical data, dietary intake or physical activity, and transmitting information to the provider. At 3 months, DSMES apps proved effective in improving medication adherence (standardized mean difference (SMD)=0.393, 95% CI 0.17 to 0.61), glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) (mean difference (MD)=-0.314, 95% CI -0.477 to -0.151) and Body Mass Index (BMI) (MD=-0.28, 95% CI -0.545 to -0.015). All pooled estimates had low heterogeneity (I 2 0%). Four studies had moderate risk of bias while one each was judged to be low and high risks, respectively. CONCLUSION: DSMES apps had significant small to moderate effects on medication adherence, HbA1c and BMI of patients with T2D compared with usual care. Apps were described as reliable, easy to use and convenient, though participants were required to be phone literate. Evidence comes from feasibility trials with generally moderate risk of bias. Larger trials with longer follow-up periods using theory-based interventions are required to improve current evidence.

Girls' Empowerment and Adolescent Pregnancy: A Systematic Review.

Background: 21 million girls get pregnant every year. Many initiatives are empowering girls. Various studies have looked at girl empowerment, however, there is contradicting evidence, and even less literature from developing countries. Methods: We searched articles published between January 2000 to January 2019. We followed Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines and registered our protocol on the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews PROSPERO (CRD42019117414). Nine articles were selected for review. Quality appraisal was done using separate tools for qualitative studies, cohort and cross-sectional studies and randomized control trials. Results: Eight studies included educational empowerment, four studies included community empowerment, three studies included economic empowerment, while two studies discussed policy empowerment. Three studies were of fair quality; two qualitative and one cross-sectional study were of high quality, while three studies had low quality. Discussion. Studies showed a favorable impact of girl empowerment on adolescent pregnancies and risky sexual behaviors. Education empowerment came through formal education or health systems such as in family planning clinics. Community empowerment was seen as crucial in girls' development, from interactions with parents to cultural practices. Economic empowerment was direct like cash transfer programs or indirect through benefits of economic growth. Policies such as contraceptive availability or compulsory school helped reduce pregnancies.

Perceptions and experiences of caregivers of severely malnourished children receiving inpatient care in Malawi: An exploratory study.

Background: Severe acute malnutrition (SAM) affects approximately 18 million children under the age of five and is associated with more than 500 thousand deaths per year. Existing research has indicated that a high number of caregivers of children admitted for inpatient treatment of SAM experience psychological distress, depressive symptoms, and suicidality. However, no published studies in Malawi have been undertaken to qualitatively explore caregivers' perceptions and experiences regarding their children's malnutrition and inpatient treatment. Aim: To explore caregivers' perceptions and experiences surrounding childhood acute malnutrition and the experience of inpatient care in Malawi. Methods: Interviews were conducted utilising a semi-structured topic guide and were coded using thematic analysis. Results: Caregivers (N=30) gave informed consent to participate in interviews. Caregiver understanding and perceptions of their children's illness varied. Some caregivers identified a physical cause, with a minority identifying lack of dietary protein. Other narratives were around characteristics of the infant, other circumstantial events and religious and spiritual influences. One-third of caregivers described their own health difficulties and marital and relationship stressors. Challenges such as poverty, lack of access to food, poor food variability and competing demands for caregiver time were explained. Both positive and negative experiences of family and community support and hospital-based care were reported. Conclusion: The themes identified contribute to a greater contextual understanding of the multifactorial and integrated approaches required to address malnutrition. This study indicates that healthcare providers need to take a multi-faceted view of malnutrition and be aware of the many factors that may influence healthcare experience and response to treatment. Acknowledging pluralistic belief systems may improve engagement with care. This demands a broader appreciation of perceptions and experiences of malnutrition, hospital-based care, sources of support and stressors within the caregiver, family and community environment as well as consideration of social determinants such as poverty and how these influences present within a clinical context.